Hydraulic system designer and manufacturer, Phoenix Marine Solutions, has developed a new cylinder-driven passerelle which with very few moving parts, leaves little to service or fail.

MD, Elizabeth Noble, believes this is the first of its type globally.

Work started on a prototype in 2012, following approaches by Oyster and Pearl for a more innovative and reliable system than was currently available.

The challenge, reports Elizabeth, was to streamline and replace the passerelle’s complex mechanisms - ie belts, pulleys and chains - while being competitively-priced.

Drawing-board

“With so much to house in a small space, there was a lot of testing, prototypes and going back to the drawing board.

"A passerelle can extend to 5m so there’s a huge amount of pressure on the system, requiring unbelievable strength.

"This final design shows us a cylinder-driven approach is the way forward.”

The new systems will appear on the Oyster 118 Slot 1 and Pearl 95 flagships.

Prototype

Phoenix is also working on a prototype hydraulic bathing ladder which it says addresses the aesthetic and size issues associated with traditional ladders.

Elizabeth continues: “Existing ladders are bulky, ugly and difficult to store and captains want something that integrates into the back of the boat. We’re confident our prototype will do the job.”

Over the past year, Phoenix has invested in research and development and equipment and recently took delivery of a water-jet cutting machine enabling it to cut steel up to 50mm thick.

Requirements

“This really is an innovation,” explains Elizabeth, “you programme in your requirements, cutting, engraving etc and it will cut through various materials such as wood, steel and glass, giving us greater control and flexibility.”

The firm reports turnover has grown by 22% over the past year and expects similar growth in 2018.